HS2 minister: Covid crisis has ‘strengthened’ case for high speed rail link January 6, 2021 The case for the controversial HS2 rail link has been bolstered by the coronavirus pandemic, the minister responsible for the project has told lawmakers. Speaking to the Transport Select Committee, Andrew Stephenson hit back at growing concerns that the current crisis has made the high speed line unnecessary. “You can argue that Covid has affected [...]
HS2 costs rise £800m just weeks after construction starts October 14, 2020 The cost of controversial rail link HS2 has risen another £800m, the government has admitted, just six months after the project was newly approved. Ministers said that the extra costs were related to removing more asbestos than had been expected, as well as on developing the terminus at Euston station. The increases were revealed in [...]
HS2 construction begins with promise to create 22,000 jobs September 4, 2020 Construction work on the controversial HS2 rail link began this morning with around 22,000 jobs expected to be created over the next few years as a result. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the project would “fire up economic growth and help to rebalance opportunity across this country for years to come.” The high speed [...]
HS2: MPs say controversial rail project ‘badly off course’ May 17, 2020 MPs have slammed the controversial HS2 rail project, saying that the scheme is “badly off course” and calling for far greater transparency from its executives. In a new report, the Public Accounts Committee criticised the body for failing to provide an accurate picture of the project’s health when providing evidence to the committee. It also [...]
HS2: New controllers needed on the nation’s biggest train set May 17, 2020 Only last month, Boris Johnson gave HS2 the official green light. But, despite HS2 Ltd being headed up by at least 47 staff paid more than the PM, the project is already coming off the rails. Today’s report from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) highlights that HS2 has gone “badly off course” and costs are [...]
Environmental protestors target HS2 London sites May 4, 2020 Environmental protestors have this morning targeted HS2 sites across London, including at Euston station, saying that money from the project should be funnelled to the NHS instead. As part of a day-long action against the controversial rail project, protestors are blockading sites across London, including at Colne Valley, a natural park in west London. At [...]
Costain secures £3.3bn HS2 contract that could create 6,000 jobs April 15, 2020 Engineering firm Costain has won a £3.3bn contract to design and build the tunnels connecting the HS2 railway to London Euston station. This initial phase of the High-Speed Two (HS2) railway project, which controversially got the go-ahead from government in February, will create 6,000 jobs, Costain said. Costain’s share price surged 23 per cent to [...]
HS2 boss says only building line to Crewe ‘doesn’t do justice to the business case’ March 10, 2020 The boss of controversial rail project HS2 has said that only building the line to Crewe “doesn’t do justice to the business case” after doubts emerged over whether the proposed eastern route to Leeds would be built. In a speech last month Andrew Stephenson, the new minister responsible for the project, made no mention of [...]
Chris Packham to challenge HS2 decision on climate change grounds March 3, 2020 Renowned broadcaster and naturalist Chris Packham has launched a legal challenge against Boris Johnson’s decision to green light the controversial HS2 rail project on climate grounds. According to Packham, the climate impact of HS2 is “incompatible” with the UK’s net zero target, and will damage or destroy almost 700 wildlife sites, including over 100 ancient [...]
Exclusive: Mystery of HS2 letter deepens as Chinese ambassador calls document ‘fake’ March 3, 2020 The provenance of a letter claiming to be from China’s state-run railway offering to build HS2 has been plunged into mystery after the Chinese ambassador to the UK said that no such letter had ever been written. Speaking at Chatham House, ambassador Liu Xiaoming said “the Chinese railway authority did not write a letter to [...]